Boxes Forever

toys and joys keep on going

Hood River News

Monday, January 16, 2006

December 28, 2005

As you read this, the Christmas gift-giving is past and most people are back at work. The New Year’s Celebration awaits, and mid-week between the holidays is a time mixed with the mundane and the magical.

The toys may have broken, the tree dried out and the Christmas cookies may have gone stale, but this remains a time of good cheer. In that spirit, some of our neighbors sent electronic greeting cards, and we share them here.

If you thought the joy of toys was past, think again as you read the article below.

The nations of the former British Commonwealth enjoy

the Dec. 26 tradition of “Boxing Day,” a day of giving and festivity. For the rest of us, there is joy to be found in a box — even an empty box, now a part of the National Toy Hall of Fame.

The Hood River County Museum holds its open house Dec. 27-29, with a definite emphasis on boxes and other playthings that stand the test of time.

Museum opens doors Dec. 28-29

Hood River County Historical Museum holds its second annual Community Holiday Open House Dec. 27 to Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hood River County Historical Museum at exit 64.

This special holiday open house is a gift from the museum board and staff to the community, according to museum coordinator Connie Nice.

Coffee and holiday treats will be provided by Starbucks by the Bridge in Hood River. Last year was the first time ever that the museum was open during the winter months. The event was so well received that the museum board will repeat the invitation again this year, according to Nice.

Normally the museum is closed over the winter months for exhibit design and collection inventory work. The museum is located on Portway Avenue, just off of I-84

“When we planned last year’s holiday open house event we had no idea if anyone would show-up. We were pleasantly surprised not only at the number of people who came in, but we also enjoyed hearing stories of special family holiday memories shared by the visitors,” Nice said.

There is no charge to visit the museum; however, donations are always appreciated to help with special events and maintain the museums archive collection.

The museum will reopen to the public on their regular schedule in 2006 on Wednesday, March 29th. The theme for 2006 is “A Travel Scrapbook” to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Mt. Hood Railroad.

Most of the exhibits have been left intact for this Holiday Open House event; however, a few display cases are in the process of being redesigned for the upcoming 2006 season.

New exhibits planned for the 2006 season include: updating the Toy Hall of Fame case, a special display on the Internment Camps of World War II, a train depot, around-the-world travel memorabilia from Hood River residents, and a collection of paper folding umbrellas created by Suma Kobayashi from old Diamond Fruit can labels.